Daniel Whiston was one of the first-ever professional skaters on the hit ITV1 show, Dancing On Ice, and won the first-ever series with his celebrity partner, actress Gaynor Faye.
In fact, Daniel has been crowned champion of Dancing On Ice three times - with Gaynor, former soap star Hayley Tamaddon and Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle. However, in 2019, Daniel swapped ice skating for the daunting task of being the show's associate creative director, which is no mean feat.
"Every day I feel pressure to raise the stakes," confesses Daniel, 47. "But that pressure for me is an adrenaline rush, I have to push the show and I have to lift everyone and make sure they are shown in their best light possible.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1709013817/articles/TU2salUb01709020681791/0015710010.jpg]
"I think we've broken all boundaries this year, it's been the highest standard we've ever seen. So that means myself and head coach, Karen Barber, are here constantly. It's super exciting because I can push the celebrities." As part of his job, Daniel has to come up with daring routines, choreography and not just for the celebrities, but for the professional skaters too.
"It sounds silly but I do a lot of my choreography in the car," confesses Daniel. "So I'll be down the M6 doing shoulder rolls - if you ever see me doing that, don't be alarmed." Having been a professional skater on Dancing On Ice for 18 years, Daniel knows how much time goes into the gruelling rehearsals and how that will impact him and his family as he swaps his hometown of Blackpool for London.
"It takes over my life," says Daniel. "My partner, my little dog Douglas, my friends, my family, we all know we're going to lose months to this show. So mentally we all have to prepare for that, but I've got such a big support network and I'm very lucky to have that.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1709013817/articles/TU2salUb01709020681791/1071066005.jpg]
"I try to go to Blackpool every week for about a day so I can have a day at home. But the competition is that fierce from this point that I'm unable to go home now until the end." With just two weeks left of the competition, Daniel has a look back over the celebrities and while the contestants seem for the most part cool and collected on the ice, it hasn't all been smooth sailing.
"I'd love to have a camera backstage that's where the real show is," laughs Daniel.
"You wouldn't believe what you were seeing there are tantrums, tiaras and feathers everywhere, and that's just the boys.
It's a show within a show, if we did Defrosted like we used to do, you wouldn't believe what you were seeing.
"We've had to make rehearsal time fair this year because a lot of people have been saying 'I want more time' - but they all do. They're all pushing for more time, and we have to make sure it's the same otherwise it become...
In fact, Daniel has been crowned champion of Dancing On Ice three times - with Gaynor, former soap star Hayley Tamaddon and Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle. However, in 2019, Daniel swapped ice skating for the daunting task of being the show's associate creative director, which is no mean feat.
"Every day I feel pressure to raise the stakes," confesses Daniel, 47. "But that pressure for me is an adrenaline rush, I have to push the show and I have to lift everyone and make sure they are shown in their best light possible.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1709013817/articles/TU2salUb01709020681791/0015710010.jpg]
"I think we've broken all boundaries this year, it's been the highest standard we've ever seen. So that means myself and head coach, Karen Barber, are here constantly. It's super exciting because I can push the celebrities." As part of his job, Daniel has to come up with daring routines, choreography and not just for the celebrities, but for the professional skaters too.
"It sounds silly but I do a lot of my choreography in the car," confesses Daniel. "So I'll be down the M6 doing shoulder rolls - if you ever see me doing that, don't be alarmed." Having been a professional skater on Dancing On Ice for 18 years, Daniel knows how much time goes into the gruelling rehearsals and how that will impact him and his family as he swaps his hometown of Blackpool for London.
"It takes over my life," says Daniel. "My partner, my little dog Douglas, my friends, my family, we all know we're going to lose months to this show. So mentally we all have to prepare for that, but I've got such a big support network and I'm very lucky to have that.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1709013817/articles/TU2salUb01709020681791/1071066005.jpg]
"I try to go to Blackpool every week for about a day so I can have a day at home. But the competition is that fierce from this point that I'm unable to go home now until the end." With just two weeks left of the competition, Daniel has a look back over the celebrities and while the contestants seem for the most part cool and collected on the ice, it hasn't all been smooth sailing.
"I'd love to have a camera backstage that's where the real show is," laughs Daniel.
"You wouldn't believe what you were seeing there are tantrums, tiaras and feathers everywhere, and that's just the boys.
It's a show within a show, if we did Defrosted like we used to do, you wouldn't believe what you were seeing.
"We've had to make rehearsal time fair this year because a lot of people have been saying 'I want more time' - but they all do. They're all pushing for more time, and we have to make sure it's the same otherwise it become...
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New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 04, 2024